Direction-signal.



II. H. ZIMMERM'AN.

DIRECTION SIGNAL, APPLICATION FILED NOV-21.19163 1,271,111 1, Patented July 2,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I .25 I INVENTOR filZZzmmrmam,

In WITNESSES f W- BY My R. H. ZIMMERMAN.

DIRECTION SiGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2|. 1916.

Patented July 2, 1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR JBJZ Z inzmermn,

WITNESSES ATTORNEY ms NDRRIS Pr'rzks PNUTO umd. wummimm n. c.

nonear H. ZIM'MER MAN, or LooKronnnnw YORK.

DIRECTIOH-IGNAL.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented July 2 1918.

Application filed November 21, 1916. Serial No. 132,650. 7

To all whom it may concern: r

Be it known that .1, ROBERT H. ZIMMER- MAN, a citizcnof the United States, residing at Lockport, in the-county of Niagara and State-of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction-Signals, of which the following is a specification;

7 This invention aims to provide a signaling device for automobiles and other vehicles, to 7 indicate the drivers intention to stop, or the course the vehicle .is about topursue in turningcorners, rounding curves, etc- More specifically stated the invention embodies a signal arm adapted to be mounted upon an, appropriate part of the'vehi'cle, with a novel means by which the drivercan conveniently lowerthe arm to its active or signaling position, as. well as elevate the arm to its normal or inactive position.

In carrying out the invention. I further provide means whereby the indicating arm is illuminated to be readily visible atnight; the said means being operable upon movement of the arm to. active or indicating position.

. The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, com-. bination. and arrangement of parts as claimed. w

In the drawings, formingv part of this specification like numerals of reference-indicate similar parts intheseveral views and wl1erein:-.-

Figurefl is a side elevationof a portion of i an automobile showing thefpresent invention appliedthereto. I

Fig. -2is' an elevation of the signal arm. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 -3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a employed for holding the in vertical position. I t Fig. 5-is a sectional view aloiigthe line indicatorarm ingdetaiL 55 of Fig. 3, showing the housing "for the p 7 .projectingxterminal of the felement22; the sprin'ggfunctioning to maintain the hook- 105 like element infengagement with the rod 231 v for the purpose above stated. 1 One endoff 1 j flexible element 25 is secured tolth'e pro- Fig. 6 is a sectional view takenpn -1I1Q;.,5

6-6 of Fig. 3. i y

The deviceforming the sub1ect matter of my invention is indicated generally at A,

' and embodies an indicator arm 10 normally positioned within the housing or casing 11,

. fragmentarysectional view" along the'lineH ofFig. 2 of theimeans' 45 the-latter being open at one side as at 12 to permit the arm to be moved from within the casing or housing'to an active or signaling position. .The device in its entirety is adapted for use in connection with automobiles indicated, at B, or other .vehicles,'and

canbe arranged on an appropriate part of the machine. As. shown in this particular instance however the device is mounted upon therlef-t side ofthe wind shield or the'v'eht s5 cle through the instrumentality' of the clamps 13 projectinr from the liousin '11. The clamps 13 pre. erably include a xed, jaw 14: and amovable jaw 15, capable of adjustment toward and away from the fixed,

jaw 1% whereby the clamp may accommodate, itself to supports of varying dimensions with which it is adaptedto be associated. It might here be stated that. the housing or casing '11 is shaped to conform to the con- I figuration or the indicator. arm which it isv adapted to receive. I

The indicator arm 10 is provided at its upper end with abox or receptacle 16, the

latter having a cover 17 which is held in closed position in any suitablemanner such as at 18. While the component parts of: the. device may be constructed from any suitable material the cover 17 of the receptacle and its opposed wall isconstructed fromglass,

preferably green in color, while on thecover 17 is painted or otherwise secured a figure representing a hand as at 19. ,The arm 10 is-hingedly mounted within the housing or casing 11 at a pointy adjacent the lower ex 90,

tremity of the arm as at 20, whereby" the arm is permitted a; vertical swingingmoveme'nt, and capableof assuming a horizontal active or signaling position.

7 The frame is normally held within the cas- 9'15.

ing orhousing 11 in a vertical position, by means of a hook-like element 22 pivotedat' ajPQi-Ilt intermediate its ends uponth rear- I wallf-Jof the vhousing 111,-'the hook terminal projecting within the housing andfadapted en e M 1 er dby th y -rm 0- A-retractile, spring .er-has one end secured to the casing 11 and its opposite end to the jecting terminal of thehook 22, the flexible of a clamp 27 secured upon the steering post C of the vehicle. This arrangement manifestly holds the flexible element 25 in convenient reach of the driver, it of course being understood that a pull upon the flexible element 25 will disengage the hook-like element 22 from the rod 23, thereby effectinga to its normal position within the casing 01" housing 1.1,byexerting a pull upon the flexible element'QS, which latter has one end secured'to the arm 10 and its opposite extremity threaded through a loop 29 formed upon the clamp 27. Secured within the casing or housing 11 is a bumper 30 positioned to be engaged by the arm to absorb the jar incident to the fallof the armto its horizontal position.

With a view of illuminating the box 16 in order to render the'signal arm readily visible inthe dark, I arrange an electric bulb 31 within said box and connect the same to a suitable source of supply such as a battery or the like indicated at 32. The conducting wires 33 and 34 respectively may be arranged in any suitable manner, preferably in the manner shown, the wire 34 being asso ciated with the binding post 35 of the fixed contact 36 arranged within the housing or casing 11. -A movable contact 37 is carried by thelower end of the arm 10 and is adapted to be brought into engagement with the fixed contact 36 when the arm assumes a horizontal or active position, whereupon the li ht 31 will be illuminated. When the arm 10 is elevated to normal position within the casing, the circuit is brokenand the light accordingly extinguished. If desired one side of the housing or casing llmay be provided with'a mirror38. It is also to be un-' derstood that the device maybe made wit or without the illuminating means.

While f it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will beappa'rent, I desire-to have it understood that what is herein shown and describedis merely illustrative of'the preferred embodiment of the invention to which I-do not limit myself and that such changes may be resorted towhen desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. An auto direction signal comprising a casing open at one side, a vertically swinging signal arm disposed within and conforming to said casing, a hinge connecting the rear wall of said casing with the adjacent lower edge of said arm, a latch member pivoted upon and extending into said casing, a catch member on said arm engaged by said latch member, a spring normally holding s'aidlatch member in engagement with said catch, and a flexible member connected with the exterior end of said latch member whereby said latch member may be moved out of engagement with said catch to permit said arm to gravitate to a horizontal position. I

2. A direction signal comprising a casing open at one side, a signal arm conforming to said casing and hinged upon the back wall thereof at its lower rear edge, a spring pressed-latch member extending into said casing and engaging said arm, a flexible member connected with said latch member whereby said latch member may be moved out of engagement with said arm, the upper end of said arm beingoverbalanoed whereby release of said latch member will permit said arm to gravitate to a horizontal position, and a bumper secured upon the rear wall of said casing below the lower end of said arm and engaged thereby when said arm drops to its horizontal position.

3. An auto direction signal comprising a casing open at one side, a signal arm formed as a hollow cell conforming to and disposed within said casing,. a hinge connection at the line of juncture of the lower rear edge of said shell with the back wall of said casing a transverse rod within said shell, a latch'member pivotedupon and extending intosaid casing and engaging said transverse rod,"the upper portion of said shell being overbalanced whereby said shell will gravitate to a horizontal position when said latch member is released from engage; ment with said transverse bar, means for releasing said latch member, and afiexible member connected with said shell and extending through the back wall of said cas ing whereby said shell may be returned to its illltlitl' position within said casing. In testimonywhereof I 'a flix my signature.

RO ERT H. ZIMMERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be: obtained for five. cents each, by addressing the cominissioner of Patents, L i 1 Washinflomnfl. 

